We start this 2023 annual report with a brief look back at our Big Year of 2022.
Normally we try to see at least 300 species in a year. We therefore don't have to go after all the species that are sighted. This year it was going to be a little different, although that was not planned with the start of the new year.
Due to the corona measures, it was not possible to organize the annual event Top of Holland for 2 years. Fortunately, this year it could be held again on May 14. The aim of the Top of Holland is to search for rare species with as many bird watchers as possible. The discoverer of the rarest species also receives a prize. We have been participating for years under the name “Twitch & Go” and we try to get as many varieties as possible, say a Big Day.
The weather forecast for the Easter weekend looked good. Wind from the east with reasonable temperatures every day. Normally this guarantees nice numbers and rarities. Monday and Tuesday before the Easter weekend there had already been significant migration so the expectations for high numbers of birds were somewhat tempered.
Alwin Borhem suggested to do a Big Day this coming weekend. The weather forecast was good so why not.
2021 started under the spell of the Corona virus and we were in a lockdown followed by a curfew that started on January 21 and lasted until April 28.
Just like last year, there is again a Melodious Warbler in the Maashorst. We actually had him expected earlier this year but the bad weather will probably be to blame.
On Tuesday morning around 9.30 a report comes in of a real Little Swift flying above the Vroon near Westkapelle. A few days ago there was also a Little Swift near Antwerp that stayed around for 2 days. With this in mind, there was no doubt and the ride to Westkapelle started immediately.